Molded bed frame leg

ABSTRACT

A molded plastic one-piece bed frame support leg having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced upper flange means, a U-shaped section connecting the flange means together and adapted to receive a leg of a cross rail angle therein, and a center tubular support section connecting to one of the flange means and blending into part of the U-shaped section. A caster can be completely received in and supported by the lower end of the tubular support section which is vertically extending when the bed frame is in use.

United States Patent [191 Miller Aug. 13,1974

[ MOLDED BED FRAME LEG [75] Inventor: Richard A. Miller, BedfordHeights,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Rusco Industries, Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

[22] Filed: July 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 380,585

[52] US. Cl. 5/200 R, 51310, 248/188, 248/188.8 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 19/00[58] Field of Search... 5/200 R, 310, 176 R; 248/188, 188.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,424 12/1956 Roche eta1 5/176 R 11/1959 Roche et a1 5/310 5/1964 Beene 248/l88.8

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oldham &Oldham Co.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A molded plastic one-piece bed frame support leg having apair of parallel, laterally spaced upper flange means, a U-shapedsection connecting the flange means together and adapted to receive aleg of a cross rail angle therein, and a center tubular support sectionconnecting to one of the flange means and blending into part of theU-shaped section. A caster can be completely received in and supportedby the lower end of the tubular support section which is verticallyextending when the bed frame is in use.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MOLDED BED FRAME LEG This invention relatesto bed frame support legs and to combinations of the same with a bedframe of the type including side rails and cross rail sections pivotallyconnected to the side rails for forming an operative bed frame.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION In Hollywood style metal bed frames, it alwaysis a problem to make these bed frames resistant to bending, and toprovide sturdy, effective support legs therefor.

various designs of bed frame legs and representative patents in thisfield include U.S. Pat. Nos. D-l79,428; 2,772,424; and 3,114,917.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a strongmolded plastic leg for use in bed frames, and which leg is characterizedby the provision of a main support column therein, and a pair ofhorizontal upper support flanges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed frame support leg ofattractive design, which leg has no sharp corners or jagged edgestherein, and which bed frame leg can be readily secured to other framecomponents to provide an operative structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a onepiece support legfor a bed frame and wherein the bed frame support leg has a recessextending down thereinto from the upper edge thereof to permit a leg ofa cross rail angle to be attached to the support leg from both sides ofthe angle leg.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bed frame supportleg with a pair of upper load carrying flanges to engage the side railand cross rail of a bed frame for adding strength and stability to theframe when in operative assembled position; to control pivotal movementof a cross rail in the frame by a lug on the support leg; and to providea support leg which completely encompasses the caster stem socket forimproved stability in the engagement of the caster stem with itspositioning socket.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bed frame leg andits assembly into a portion of a bed frame;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the bed frame leg with the bed frame componentsbeing shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the bedframe leg and associated frame components being shown in assembledrelationship;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through a bed frame side rail showing anassembly of the bed frame leg and cross rail connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the bed frame leg taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a slightly enlarged horizontal section of the leg taken online 6-6 of FIG. 4.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

Attention now is directed to the details of the structure shown in theaccompanying drawings, and a bed frame support leg is indicated as awhole by the numeral 10. This leg 10 is a molded, unitary product whichis made from any suitable plastic molding material as is availablecommerciallytoday. This support leg 10 is primarily designed for usewith Hollywood bed frames and a side rail 12 of such a frame is shown inFIG. 1 of the drawings, while a cross rail section or cross rail 14 isalso shown in the drawings and the leg 10 is used in operativelyassemblying cross rails to the side rails in bed frames of the Hollywoodstyle, as well as to provide mobile support therefor. These Hollywoodbed frames are conventional in construction and are of the type asshown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,424. The cross rail 14 ispivotally secured to the side rail 12 as explained hereinafter in moredetail. Normally, both the side rail 12 and cross rail 14 are made fromconventional metal angles, and with the side rail 12 having a horizontalleg 16 and a vertically extending leg 18. The cross rail 14 normally hasa horizontal leg 20 and avertical leg 22 and the bed frame engages boxsprings or other bedding members in an operative bed frame.

The support leg 10 has a pair of parallel laterally spaced horizontallydirected support flange members 24 and 26 provided thereon with theflange 26 being slightly lower than the flange 24, and with the flange24 primarily comprising spaced sections or wings 24a and 24b separatedby an open upper end 28 of a center vertically extending tubular supportsection or column 30 formed in the leg. An upwardly protruding lockinglug 32 is formed on the upper end 28 of the center support column 30 andis positioned intermediate the sections or wings 24a and 24b of theflange 24. Intersecting vertically extending stiffening gussets 34 areformed in the bore or center portion of the support column 30intermediate the top and bottom ends thereof for aiding in forming asturdy, strong load carrying section in the leg 10. Such gussets are, ofcourse, integral with the support column. 7

The lower flange 26 has a pair of apertures 36 therein for receivingsecuring means to attach the leg in operative association with the bedframe, and this flange 26 preferably is provided with an arcuatereenforcing center section or brace 38 that smoothly blends into thelower surface of this lower flange 26 and extends downwardly into avertically extending portion of the leg spaced directly below the centerportion of this lower flange 26. Such brace 38 may be hollow asindicated in FIG. 5 to reduce the amount of material required to formthe leg without impairing the strength thereof.

The center support column 30 may include a vertically extendingreenforcing rib 40 formed on the upper inner surface of this tubularsupport column while a socket 42, open at the lower end of the supportcolumn 30, for a caster stem and/or its positioning means is formed inthe leg for receiving and completely encompassing suitable caster stemsand caster stem socket positioning means. A conventional caster 44 isshown operatively engaging the lower end of the support leg 10 andhaving a caster stem (not shown) extending up into the caster socket 42to position the same in operative engagement with the bed frame.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the flanges 24 and 26 have downwardlyextending web means integrally formed therewith on adjacent laterallyinner edges thereof and which reenforcing means form a substantiallyU-shaped section 46 that extends laterally of the bed frame leg andextends vertically downwardly of the bed frame leg a suitable distanceso that the vertically extending leg 22 of the cross rail 14 can bereceived therein. These web portions or reenforcing sections in thesupport leg have horizontally-aligned holes formed therein for receivingrivets or equivalent means 48 that extend through such holes and throughholes in the vertical leg 22 of the cross rail 14 to affix the crossrail leg securely to the bed frame support leg. The horizontal flange 20of the cross rail 14 is supported on the upper surface of this flange26. The vertical flange or leg 22 is engaged on both sides by opposingsurfaces of 20 the U-shaped section 46 which snugly receive the crossrail leg therein to support it fixedly in position.

The support leg is pivotally secured to the side rail 12, as by a rivet50 or equivalent means that extends through preformed holes formed inthe horizontal leg or flange 16 of the side rail, the horizontal flangeof the cross rail and through the lower flange 26 and holes formedtherein. Usually a spacing washer 52 is carried on the shank ofthisrivet to aid in providing some spacing of the rails for pivotal actionbetween the cross rail and side rail of the bed frame.

The cross rail 14 is further secured to the support leg 10 by a rivet 54engaging a laterally inner portion of the support leg and the lowerflange 26.

The outer appearance of the center support column 30 in the leg is mademore attractive by the provision of vertically extending ribs 56 thereonand by gradually tapering the support column inwardly at its lower end.Likewise, reenforcing webs 58 are provided at laterally spaced lowermargins of the reenforcing section 46 and they curve inwardly of thesupport leg and blend into one wall of the tubular support column.

FIG. 4 shows that when the support leg 10 is engaged with a cross railand side rail in an operative bed frame, one end of the lug 32 at theupper end of the support leg abuts against the laterally inner edge ofthe side rail 12 when the cross rail is operatively positioned to extendperpendicular to the side rail.

It will be realized that all of the components and portions of thesupport leg 10 are of an integral, unitary construction and that theflanges 24 and 26 blend smoothly into the remaining portions of the legand that the center support column 30 in the leg, as well as the otherpart of the leg are made of any suitable thickness from a high strengthplastic moldable plastic.

The U-shaped reenforcing section 46 in the support leg forms onevertically extending wall 62 which is continuous from edge to edge inthe leg whereas a wall 64 forming the opposed portion of this sectionmay be interrupted as indicated at 66 in FIG. 5 of the drawings at theupper end of the support column 30 as a sturdy leg construction is stillobtained.

A sturdy attractive leg has been provided by this invention. It isdurable and meets the objects of the invention.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

I claim:

1.A bed frame leg comprising a one-piece molded plastic body including apair of parallel laterally spaced upper flange means, a U-shaped sectionconnecting said flange means together and adapted to receive a leg of across rail angle therein, and a center tubular supportsection connectingto one of said flange means and blending into part of said U-shapedsection, one of said upper flange means being adapted to have a bedframe cross rail secured thereto.

2. A bed frame leg as in claim 1 where said U-shaped section terminatesat laterally spaced bottom portions thereof into strengthening websblending into said support section.

3. A bed frame leg as in claim 1 where an upwardly protruding stop lugis formed at-a center portion of one of said flange means to abut on anedge of a side rail and limit arcuate movement of a cross rail when theleg is operatively engaged with a bed frame.

4. A bed frame leg comprising a one-piece molded plastic body includinga tubular center support, upper flange means extending in oppositedirections from said center support at its upper end, a lower supportflange spaced laterally from but parallel to said upper flange means,said flange means and said support flange having adjacent parallellaterally inner edges, and a generally U-shaped section connecting atits upper ends to the adjacent laterally inner edges of said flangemeans and said flange and blending into a wall of said center support atthe lower end of said U-shaped section.

5. The combination in a bed frame comprising a bed frame leg formed as aone-piece molded plastic body including a tubular center support, upperflange means, a lower support flange spaced laterally from but parallelto said upper flange means,

said flange means and said support flange having adjacent parallellaterally inner edges, and a generally U-shaped section connecting tothe adjacent laterally inner edges of said flange means and said flangeand blending into a wall of said center support at the lower end of saidU-shaped section; and a metal angle cross rail having one flangereceived in said U-shaped section and a second flange bearing on saidlower support flange, a metal angle bed frame side rail, a securingmeans extending through legs of said side rail and cross rail, and saidlower support flange to secure the cross rail and support leg pivotallyto the side rail, and rivet means extending through said U-shapedsection and said flange of said cross rail for securing said cross railto said bed frame leg.

6. The combination as in claim 5 where an upwardly protruding stop lugis formed at a center portion of said upper flange means to abut on anedge of a side rail and limit arcuate movement of a cross rail to aposition extending perpendicularly to the side rail.

7. The combination as in claim 5 where said upper flange means supportssaid side rail, and said second flange of said cross rail is positionedbelow and movable under said side rail.

8. A bed frame leg as in claim 1 where said support section has acontinuous periphery at a bottom portion thereof, and an upper portionof said support section has an interrupted inner periphery.

1. A bed frame leg comprising a one-piece molded plastic body includinga pair of parallel laterally spaced upper flange means, a U-shapedsection connecting said flange means together and adapted to receive aleg of a cross rail angle therein, and a center tubular support sectionconnecting to one of said flange means and blending into part of saidU-shaped section, one of said upper flange means being adapted to have abed frame cross rail secured thereto.
 2. A bed frame leg as in claim 1where said U-shaped sEction terminates at laterally spaced bottomportions thereof into strengthening webs blending into said supportsection.
 3. A bed frame leg as in claim 1 where an upwardly protrudingstop lug is formed at a center portion of one of said flange means toabut on an edge of a side rail and limit arcuate movement of a crossrail when the leg is operatively engaged with a bed frame.
 4. A bedframe leg comprising a one-piece molded plastic body including a tubularcenter support, upper flange means extending in opposite directions fromsaid center support at its upper end, a lower support flange spacedlaterally from but parallel to said upper flange means, said flangemeans and said support flange having adjacent parallel laterally inneredges, and a generally U-shaped section connecting at its upper ends tothe adjacent laterally inner edges of said flange means and said flangeand blending into a wall of said center support at the lower end of saidU-shaped section.
 5. The combination in a bed frame comprising a bedframe leg formed as a one-piece molded plastic body including a tubularcenter support, upper flange means, a lower support flange spacedlaterally from but parallel to said upper flange means, said flangemeans and said support flange having adjacent parallel laterally inneredges, and a generally U-shaped section connecting to the adjacentlaterally inner edges of said flange means and said flange and blendinginto a wall of said center support at the lower end of said U-shapedsection; and a metal angle cross rail having one flange received in saidU-shaped section and a second flange bearing on said lower supportflange, a metal angle bed frame side rail, a securing means extendingthrough legs of said side rail and cross rail, and said lower supportflange to secure the cross rail and support leg pivotally to the siderail, and rivet means extending through said U-shaped section and saidflange of said cross rail for securing said cross rail to said bed frameleg.
 6. The combination as in claim 5 where an upwardly protruding stoplug is formed at a center portion of said upper flange means to abut onan edge of a side rail and limit arcuate movement of a cross rail to aposition extending perpendicularly to the side rail.
 7. The combinationas in claim 5 where said upper flange means supports said side rail, andsaid second flange of said cross rail is positioned below and movableunder said side rail.
 8. A bed frame leg as in claim 1 where saidsupport section has a continuous periphery at a bottom portion thereof,and an upper portion of said support section has an interrupted innerperiphery.